Makhachev-Tsarukyan 2, Dvalishvili-Nurmagomedov Announced for UFC 311

First PPV of 2025 is a BANGER 🔥@MAKHACHEVMMA vs @ArmanUFC 2@MerabDvalishvil vs @UNmgdv #UFC311 at the @IntuitDome | 🎟️: https://t.co/dX45J0Cwpw pic.twitter.com/QE3Evz1uQr

— UFC (@ufc) December 5, 2024

Two title bouts will top the Ultimate Fighting Championship’s return to the City of Angels.

Dana White announced on Wednesday night that UFC 311 will be headlined by a lightweight championship clash between Islam Makhachev and Arman Tsarukyan. In the co-main event, Merab Dvalishvili will defend his bantamweight crown against Umar Nurmagomedov. UFC 311 takes place on Jan. 18 at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles and airs on pay-per-view via ESPN+.

Makchev and Tsarukyan initially squared off at UFC Fight Night 149, with Makhachev winning via unanimous decision in the April 2019 bout. That was just part of an ongoing 14-fight winning streak for Makhachev, who captured the lightweight strap with a second-round submission of Charles Oliveira at UFC 280 and has since defended the belt with triumphs over Alexander Volkanovski (twice) and Dustin Poirier.

Tsarukyan, meanwhile, has been victorious in nine of 10 Octagon appearances since falling to Makhachev in his promotional debut. The 28-year-old American Top Team product secured a title shot by taking a split verdict over Oliveira at UFC 300 this past April.

Dvalishvili claimed bantamweight gold this past September, when he defeated Sean O’Malley via unanimous decision in the UFC 306 main event. “The Machine” has won 11 consecutive bouts in UFC competition, with 10 of those triumphs coming at 135 pounds. While Dvalishvili was somewhat dismissive of Nurmagomedov in the aftermath of his win over O’Malley, it appears that the Georgian has changed his tune.

“Merab came into the office late [Tuesday] night, told us that he is tired of listening to Umar disrespect him and wanted to make this fight happen as soon as possible,” White said. “We called Umar. He was sleeping in Dagestan. He said, ‘Hell yes. Anywhere, anytime.’”

Nurmagomedov owns an 18-0 career mark that includes six victories within the Las Vegas-based promotion. The 28-year-old Eagles MMA representative earned the most significant victory of his professional tenure at UFC on ABC 7, where he outpointed Cory Sandhagen in a main event affair on Aug. 3.

Makhachev vs Tsarukyan and Dvalishvili vs Nurmagomedov is LIVE January 18th from @intuitdome, California! #UFC311 pic.twitter.com/XZuAFUYAyC

— danawhite (@danawhite) December 5, 2024